Talk Mold

The discovery of so-called “toxic” mold derailed two house sales last year in one mixed-income West Los Angeles neighborhood.

The first house opened escrow with a full-price deal and a full-price back-up offer. The buyer ordered a mold inspection and that black stuff with the unpronounceable name turned up in the remodeled kitchen and bathroom. The sellers cited an as-is clause in the purchase contract and refused to remediate the mold. The buyer walked away $1,000 poorer.

The sellers then immediately sold the house at full price to the second buyer. Did the seller and the seller’s agent conveniently forget to disclose the mold? Did the seller credit the buyer the cost of remediation or did the buyer just not care that the house was potentially toxic?

The second house opened escrow around the same time, but months later still has a for-sale sign in the front yard. The house is vacant and swathed in plastic sheeting, workers have been going into and coming out of the house with huge fans and other mold-remediation equipment and someone is suing someone else over the deal, according to an agent who listed another house on the same block.

It’s all been very intriguing and entertaining for my parents and their neighbors–aside from the very worrisome reality that the toxic stuff might be lurking in their houses too.
– Marcie Geffner from the Inman News Blog